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Photos: Royalty, racehorses and hats come together for the Royal Ascot

For five days in June top racehorses, royalty and hats come together just outside of London in a spectacle that goes back hundreds of years.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, make their way in the royal procession during day 1 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on Tuesday. (Charlie Crowhurst / Getty Images for Ascot Racecours)

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, attend day one of the horse racing meet. The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar. (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP / Getty Images)

Prince Charle and his wife Camilla Duchess of Cornwall arrive in the parade. Horse racing has been held at the famous Berkshire course since 1711 and tradition is a hallmark of the meeting. (Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)

Lady Aurelia ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field as they come home to win the King's Stand Stakes during day one of the Royal Ascot meet. (John Walton / The Associated Press)

Following the races many people stay to sing around the bandstand. Flags and songbooks are distributed, and the lyrics are shown on a screen in case the words to “Daydream Believer” have escaped a racegoer after several hours of gambling and drinking pitchers of Pimm’s. (Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)

The dress code at Royal Ascot is just as famous as many of the horses who have competed there. How strictly visitors have to follow the rules is dictated by their ticket. (Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)

Royal Ascot features enclosures, and each one comes with its own set of rules. Not surprisingly, the Royal Enclosure is both the hardest to gain access to and the swankiest.
(Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)

Ascot spells out the dress code on its website. Formal attire is “encouraged” in the Queen Anne and Village Enclosures, while in the Windsor Enclosure, racegoers are expected to wear “smart clothes.” (Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)

The parking lots at Royal Ascot host another tradition: a competition to see who can have the fanciest picnic. Imagine butlers, candelabras, champagne and silver service. (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP / Getty Images)

Tues., June 20, 2017

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